Catan’s Backstory

Did you know that Klaus Teuber Created a Detailed Backstory for the Island of Catan.

While the island of Catan in the game is fictional, Klaus Teuber developed a rich backstory, including a detailed map of the island's surroundings, inhabitants, and cultural development. Though most of this lore is not included in the base game, it has appeared in various expansions and spinoffs, such as Catan: The Novel and the Catan comic books. This backstory reflects Teuber's love of world-building, evident in the game's immersive mechanics, even though players only get a glimpse of the world in the core gameplay.

Author Rebecca Gable wrote a historical fiction novel based on Klaus Teuber’s lore. The novel was first released in Germany in 2003 and was translated to English in 2011.

The novel takes place in 850 AD and follows the story of a seafaring Norse community who set out from their village of Elasund to discover the mythical island of Catan.

Below is a trailer for the book…